This Game Is Too Realistic-Chapter 577.1: The Voices From Hell

At one corner of Zhao Tiangan’s manor, beside the slaves’ quarters and garden, stood a uniquely decorated five-story house.

Its structure formed a hollow square. Outside stretched a neatly kept lawn, and in the very center was a wide courtyard where many people lived.

Though not as grand as the main residence, it was still one of the most luxurious buildings in the entire settlement.

Those in the manor called it the ‘Guesthouse’.

Those who lived here were esteemed guests of the master. Unless one was a trusted confidant, a family member of a confidant, or a servant designated to attend to them, one could never come close.

For this reason, though the guest house sat in a remote corner far from the main residence, large numbers of attendants still waited on those inside.

That was where Yang Xiaoyang had been born.

The people there treated her kindly, especially after her grandparents and mother died of illness. Their kindness even grew into warmth, almost to the point of over-attentiveness.

The lord in particular treated her as though she were his own child. Beyond caring for her in every detail, he even allowed her to study and play alongside his daughter, even giving her the same beautiful dresses.

More than that, he gave her privileges other children did not enjoy. She had permission to leave the Guesthouse freely. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

So long as she stayed within the manor walls, she could go wherever she pleased.

As for other children, even stepping into the garden beyond the Guesthouse would see them brought back by watchful attendants.

Of course, her freedom came at a price. One or two silent uncles always followed her wherever she went.

They even stood guard when she went to the toilet.

Her best friend, Yinyin, the lord’s youngest daughter, once grew angry with her father because of it, demanding he send away those annoying stalkers.

But though the master spoiled his daughter in everything else, on that matter he never relented. He even lost his temper and locked Yinyin in a small dark room.

Yang Xiaoyang had never seen the lord so furious. She quickly tried to reassure Yinyin, saying she did not really mind being followed.

Because she noticed that during the days Yinyin was punished, even more pairs of eyes followed her, and the discomfort of being watched became unbearable.

Perhaps the lord suspected her. He might have suspected she had urged his daughter to help her escape.

So she spent those days acting especially clumsy, pretending she could not survive without her nanny, until she dispelled his suspicions.

Though only six years old, her life as a dependent had made her far more mature than her peers. No one had ever explained such complex matters to her, yet she could read the hidden intentions in the eyes of others.

The men who followed her were not guarding her safety. They feared she might escape.

The lord’s affection was not because she was pitiful or cute, nor for the reasons he claimed. It was simply because of her father.

And the bond between her father and the lord was not friendship like her own with Yinyin, but only the cold calculus of mutual use.

Adults loved to dress their ugly motives in noble names.

She did not really understand what being a merchant meant. But she overheard that her father sold the farm’s goods to the outside world for profit.

He had left her, her mother, and her grandparents in the settlement, in exchange for the lord’s support. The lord, in turn, used her, her father’s only remaining family, to bind him to them.

That was why the lord let Yinyin’s tutor also teach her.

Not so she could learn, nor so Yinyin would have a companion of equal age and knowledge, but so she could write letters to her father.

Perhaps those letters from her father were not truly out of love, but simply to reassure the lord. If she mattered so much to him, why would he never come back?

It had been a long time since he returned. Not even when her mother died. Sometimes she wondered if he had another family outside, and only maintained this tie to keep the lord’s trust.

It was possible.

She had heard that before her father, another merchant had worked for the master, until one day he simply vanished. No one knew if he was dead or missing. His family in the Guesthouse also vanished.

Perhaps someday, the same would happen to her.

Yet she did not hate her father. On the contrary, once she understood those things, she became more at peace.

The wasteland had little worth clinging to. Why not stay there?

At least life was good. In fact, for the time being, it was very good for her. She had her dearest friend.

The future could wait.

The most important person in her life was undoubtedly Yinyin.

The young lady of the manor, two years her senior, truly treated her as a friend. She cared sincerely, grew angry at her mistreatment and even defended her.

Though her naive friend often bungled things and occasionally caused trouble for her, Yang Xiaoyang never blamed her.

After lessons, they always played happily together, catching crickets, playing house with dolls, or hide-and-seek with the other children.

Hide-and-seek was their favorite, because it let Yang Xiaoyang vanish from adult eyes for a time. When she disappeared, everyone panicked.

Their anxious faces never grew dull to watch.

So sometimes the game turned into hiding her as long as possible, watching the attendants turn the estate upside down.

But Yang Xiaoyang knew the joke could not go too far. When they were about to panic for real, she would leave clues so she could be found.

For that, Yinyin often scolded her for being clumsy.

It was a shame the lady did not know it was deliberate. Otherwise, things would end badly.

“Damn... Just a little more and I would’ve made that guy cry!”

At the fountain in the guest house garden, Yinyin sat swinging her legs, pouting, chin in her hands.

As usual, they had spent the afternoon causing chaos, leaving the attendants in a frenzy.

Unlike usual, her father had not appeared. He had not even scolded them, just ordered the butler to bring Yang Xiaoyang back.

The butler hurried off again, saying nothing. Apparently, important guests had arrived.

Yinyin felt bored.

So this time, her father had not worried at all?

Had all their effort been for nothing?

“The hiding spot was perfect. No one could’ve guessed it... Xiaoyang, if only you were sharper!”

Hearing her complaints, Xiaoyang gave a silly smile and whispered, “Sorry, Sister Yinyin... Xiaoyang is too stupid.”

“No need to apologize! The ones who should apologize are those rude shadows! Don’t they have better things to do than follow a lady around?” Staring earnestly at Yang Xiaoyang, Yinyin declared. “And anyway, we play hide-and-seek so you can be free for a while. If it only makes you sad, then it’s pointless.”

“Yinyin...” Yang Xiaoyang’s eyes brimmed with tears.

She never told her best friend. She did not long for freedom. Being followed had never bothered her as she had always lived that way.

Even if she escaped, her father would only send her back, just as he had once sent her mother and grandparents over.

But... Being cared for felt wonderful.

“Don’t look at me like that! It’s embarrassing!” Blushing under those watery eyes, Yinyin scratched her cheek, then suddenly brightened as her gaze fell on the Guesthouse.

She remembered an old rumor. The Guesthouse had once been the manor’s main building.

In its basement, deep below, there was said to be a door leading underground. That door had existed since her great-grandfather’s time.

She did not know what lay beyond.

But she knew one thing. No one would try to look there!

“That’s it!” Seizing Xiaoyang’s hands, Yinyin exclaimed with excitement, “I remembered the perfect place! No one will ever find it! Come with me!”

Seeing her determined expression, Yang Xiaoyang felt uneasy. They had already played one prank that day, twice in one day would be too much.

Still, Yinyin dragged her from the fountain.

“Wait, Yinyin... maybe tomorrow? Someone must be watching. If we go now, won’t the secret place be discovered?”

“Relax, they won’t.” Yinyin whispered mysteriously in her ear. “It’s in the Guesthouse. It’s inside. They don’t follow you in there, right?”

Yang Xiaoyang hesitated, then nodded slowly.

If it was inside the Guesthouse, the lord would not be angry.

Seeing her timid friend muster her courage, Yinyin smiled in triumph. “Come on!”

She pulled Yang Xiaoyang toward the northern wing, down a dark stairwell, into the first basement.

Yang Xiaoyang had heard of that place. It was supposedly a storeroom, but it was rarely used.

For the first time, she descended.

It was pitch-dark, only Yinyin’s flashlight breaking the gloom. The chill and the shadows made her knees tremble.

Even Yinyin froze in awe. The basement was huge, like a labyrinth.

“Which way... do we go?” Yang Xiaoyang whispered, hoping her friend would give up.

It was a shame she had underestimated Yinyin’s determination.

At that pleading gaze, all hesitation left her eyes.

She had promised to give Yang Xiaoyang freedom, even for a moment.

There was no better place. It was dark, but it was perfect camouflage. It could be their secret castle!

The next second, a faint sound, like a whisper, rang in her mind.